The problem, for me, wasn't that DANSE MACABRE was 300 pages of sex. The Anita Blake Series has become increasingly more sex- based, due to the ardeur that Anita carries and needs to feed. The sex in the book is nothing great, although there are a few attempts to put the people involved in situations and positions that I find would be hard to accomplish for any mortal human. But since everyone in the book is some type of supernatural being, it didn't seem to be a physical impossibility. So, if you can understand the fact that sex is an integral part of this book, you won't have a problem.

What makes the book not that great is the fact that, underneath the sex, there's just no real plot. Jean-Claude has invited a number of various Masters of the City to St. Louis for the showing of an all-vampire ballet/dance troupe. As such, the same Masters have all brought various candidates to become Anita's pomme de sang (read blood & sex dinner). That's the general plot. Unfortunately, the entire book only covers forty-eight hours, and although we know the gist of the storyline, nothing ever really happens. Besides, of course, the sex.

There are lots of hurt feelings in the book. There's a pregnancy scare. There's the typical characters (Richard, Jean-Claude, Asher, Nathaniel, Micah, Jason, Claudia, assorted vampires and werewolves and wereleopards and wererats). There are new characters (the succubs mermaid and her family, the werelions, the Masters of the City). There's crazy sex, ardeur sex, powerful sex, painful sex.

When you strip away the sex, there's not a whole lot else there. Although I will say that DANSE MACABRE could have used a good editor, just to get rid of the repeated phrases that are prominent throughout the book.

Yes, I finished the story, and no, I didn't hate it. But it wasn't all that satisfying (the sex, although large in number, isn't anything to write home about) or fulfilling (almost nothing is resolved at the end of the book that was brought up at the start).

Would I recommend buying a copy? No. Should you borrow it from a friend or the library? If you're an Anita Blake fan, then yes, to see how the storyline (what there is of it) continues. Let's hope the next book has a little more meat to it, and less screaming sexual gratification.

I have read alot of not so good reviews on the later Anita Blake books, but I liked this one as well as the others. I like to see the progression of the characters, and the relationships. I can't wait to read the next one to see where it all goes. I really LOVE this series!

Not her best work but still a good read. Missing the butt kicking Anita Blake, hope she finds her way back soon.

Remember when these books had actual plots? Oh how I miss the old Anita.

It's like watching a train wreck...you know what's going to keep happening but you can't look away.
I will keep reading the series just to see what happens...but this series has gone from a little sex and lots of plot to a little bit of plot thrown in with lots of sex. It jumps ard alot and I found I had to read the book 3 times to really gte a grip on what happened.

First I want to say, that if you're not looking for something erotic and sensual, then you should move on. I won't compare these books with soft-core porn, because the writing style is simply too good, but they are definitely explicit. I'm with the lovers of this series, and not the haters (although I do understand the need to keep reading a series that I roll my eyes at) and really just love the story, regardless of where it's come so far.

Well, even though I REALLY enjoyed reading this book, it may have been my least favorite in the series. I could've used a little more action and guns and violence and all that. LOL But, the story was still GREAT. I had a hard time tearing myself away from it none-the-less. Darn the need to sleep! But a couple of hours did and I was back to finish the book. I don't know how she does it, but Hamilton knows how to write an intoxicating story. Even though it was a bit soap opera, which normally drives me nuts, I couldn't pull myself away!

I loved that there were mermaids in this one! Although I wish there were more of them. Hopefully, there will be more in future books. I really do love how the author keeps introducing a mix of mythological (or Dungeons & Dragonsish--yes, I am a gamer nerd ;P) creatures into her stories. The RPGer in me says "Yay!"

I also found it hilarious when Anita called herself the "Pornographic Snow White" when she was counting off that she had 7 lovers. Although, I do think it's annoying that people around her like to refer to her as a slut. It's the present people, and women would like to have full equal rights. For centuries it has been perfectly acceptable for a man to have a harem. So why not a woman? I say "Go Anita!"

These books have become less about monsters and horror and basically soft porn books. The series was very promising and rapidly went downhill after the 5th or 6th book.

Part of the Anita Blake Series
1. Guilty Pleasures
2. The Laughing Corpse
3. Circus Of The Damned
4. Lunatic Cafe
5. Bloody Bones
6. The Killing Dance
7. Burnt Offerings
8. Blue Moon
9. Obsidian Butterfly
10. Narcissus In Chains
11. Cerulean Sins
12. Incubus Dreams
13. Micah
14. Danse Macabre
15. The Harlequin (2007)

Couldn't put it down. I was pulled away every night so I would sleep. I love Laurell's work.

LOVE the Anita Blake series...

Anita Blake needs to be concentrating on a dangerous situation: the ardeur -- the sexual power that flows between Anita and Jean-Claude, Master Vampire of the City; and Richard, the volatile werewolf who loves her passionately -- is reaching new levels. The unexpected effect of this is that Jean-Claude's own power as a master vampire has grown -- and Richard, never predictable, is changing, too.

But as the days pass, Anita's less interested in vampire politics than in an ancient, ordinary dread she shares with women down the ages: she may be pregnant. And, if she is, whether the father is a vampire, a werewolf, or someone else entirely, she knows perfectly well that being a federal marshal known for raising the dead and executing vampires is not way to bring up a baby...

Read All Book Reviews of "Danse Macabre Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Bk 14"

My favorite paranormal romance novel writer.

first one in the series i was totally disappointed in. sex,sex, and more sex, rehashing same old issues.....

More erotic sex and vampire politics. What's not to like? Anita's power increases as well as her animals.

Alot about the ardeur and sex, not alot about the regular stuff like Edward and catching the bad guys.

Read All Book Reviews of "Danse Macabre Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Bk 14"